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According to the 2023 United States Census Bureau, 20.5% [1 in 5] of Washingtonians speak a language other than English at home. At WCN, we celebrate the rich diversity of Washington’s communities.
In addition, a 2024 WCN Washington nursing diversity data snapshot showed that 38% of Washingtonians identify as an ethnicity or race other than white, compared to only 23% of the state’s RN nursing workforce. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, “Improving nursing diversity strengthens the trust between patients and nurses.
In healthcare, a diverse nursing workforce strengthens care for all Washingtonians. To celebrate the contributions of bilingual nurses in Washington, WCN created videos to share the journey into nursing for some of Washington’s bilingual nurses.
These videos explore the challenges these nurses overcame to pursue a career in nursing, along with their passion for caring and community that helped them to succeed!
WCN created these videos to promote nursing as a career to diverse populations and culturally competent care. If you are considering a career in nursing, know that nursing needs you. And though there are challenges in pursuing a career in nursing, there are people and resources to help you achieve your goal!
For more information or to connect with one Washington’s multiethnic nurses associations visit https://www.wcnursing.org/nursing-workforce/washington-state-nursing-organizations/
The primary role of a nurse is patient advocacy. Nurses usually enjoy working with and helping people. They regularly communicate with patients and are responsible for recording a patient’s medical symptoms and history. A nurse must also collaborate with a team of health care professionals to create an informed patient care plan. Nurses monitor a patient’s health, administer treatments and medications, operate medical equipment, perform diagnostic tests, educate and assist patients about managing illnesses, and provide care while supporting a patient’s dignity.
A nurse might have cared for you when you got sick or injured at school, or when you went to an appointment in a clinic or hospital. Nursing is the largest healthcare profession in our state as well as in the nation. The women and men who are registered nurses work in many different settings and serve all communities.
Nurses need to be:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 15% job growth rate for registered nurses through 2026, and a career in nursing can offer job security and growth throughout your career. Nursing is a profession that blends scientific knowledge with compassion and caring. There are few professions that combine high tech and high touch like nursing.
A few other reasons why nursing is a great career choice for your future include:
How hard is nursing school? by Steven Bobulsky
When I started my nursing classes (the formal part of classes after pre-requirements were filled) about 120 of us were all gathered into one large lecture room for the welcome/orientation to the Nursing school.
After some remarks, the department head said “Ok, look to your right and left”.
Then, she startled us.
She said “You won’t really believe me today- but, only one out of three of you will make it all the way through the program. I don’t mean to be cruel, or dishearten you- by all means, study, learn, and go for it! All I’m saying is simply what I know from experience”.
Talk about being sobered up quick.
There were 40 of us that made it over the finish line. Exactly as “prophesied”.
Nursing school is hard.
I had a B.A. in history, an M.Div in theology, GM corporate and organizational training, familiar with 5 languages, yada, yada, yada. That’s a plus, but none of that prepared me for Nursing school.
Nursing school is different.
It’s a science. The word ‘science’ comes from the latin root word ‘scio’ which means “I know.”
There’s no BS in this B.S., if you get my meaning. You’re going to have to know.
You will know the exact prescribed procedures for all the nursing ‘skills’ (starting an I.V., placing a catheter, changing a sterile dressing, suctioning a tracheotomy patient, and on and on). And, you will be able to demonstrate that you know all these procedures, exactly and in the proper order with no errors, under the eyes of a nurse who is closely watching everything you do, with no hints or help while doing it.
You will know clinical math skills, how to apply them to drugs and dosages. You will know the names, actions, and side-effects of all the drugs you will use in your practice- and there are a lot.
You will know how to completely assess a patient’s condition from head to foot, quickly and efficiently, and how to document that in writing every time.
You will know anatomy and physiology. You will know exactly how to write a nursing care plan for every patient.
Oh, there’s more; but I don’t want to carry on- except to say you will know, and you will think like a nurse. What I mean there is: I have known how to think ‘like me’ all my life. But you don’t get through the program until you learn to ‘think with the mind of a nurse’.
Nursing school is hard. You won’t waltz through it. But, if you actually do all the homework/reading- and on time, not catching up- that’s even harder- and you sit attentively through the lectures, listening actively, not passively…..and God willing and the river don’t rise and interrupt your studies….
You will have the mind and knowledge and skills of a nurse. You can make it.
Nurses’ education teaches them about health and illness and how the body and mind work. They also learn how to manage other members of the healthcare team, such as nursing or medical assistants.
There is a high need for nurses who represent all ethnic groups and other underrepresented populations.
After you graduate from high school, there are several paths you can take to become a registered nurse. As you search for a program that is best for you, make sure it is on the Washington State Board of Nursing’s list of Approved Nursing Programs in the State of Washington. You can find the list under Quick Links by clicking on Find a nursing program or course.
To learn more about navigating the cost of nursing school click here.
Navigating your nursing education can be complex. With so many programs and pathways into nursing, finding the right path to fit your unique situation and goals takes time and effort.
To help you better understand your options, WCN created Nursing Program Prerequisite Course Guides. These prerequisite course guide spreadsheets can help you review and compare pre-nursing program course prerequisites for most Washington nursing programs.
Note: These spreadsheets were created to be a general guide to support potential nursing students in mapping out their nursing education. It is reviewed and updated twice a year (generally in late spring and mid-fall) and may not contain the most up-to-date information. For the most up-to-date information on each program, you must visit the program website.
Click the image to view. 
Nursing is Opportunity presented by WCN Executive Director, Sofia Aragon, JD, BSN, RN
To be a registered nurse is to make a difference in people’s lives. At the very minimum, nursing provides an income that will support you and your family well. As a career, thousands of opportunities are available to you to help make the world a better place for everyone. This presentation will provide an overview of the many opportunities in nursing.
The Washington Center for Nursing: Resources and information for becoming a nurse in WA state
The Washington Center for Nursing talks with students about what is needed to become a nurse and ways WCN can help.
Thinking About Nursing: OH MY! presented by Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization member Dr. Gayle Robinson
An African American Woman shares a story about what ignited her imagination, her curiosity with biology, chemistry, physics, drawing, poetry, writing and math. She shares a story about her experiences in health care, and the people who helped her along the way in her nursing journey from preschool to PhD.
Nursing: From Social Anxiety to Social Media presented by Nurse Stefan Torres
Nurse Stefan shares how the nursing profession transformed him from an awkward adolescent to an awesome adult, and the steps it takes to get to the life-changing career he never expected.
